UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Leah Link, an early childhood and elementary education major from Warminster, Pennsylvania, has been chosen as the student marshal for the College of Education’s 2025 spring commencement ceremony.
Link, the daughter of Jennifer and David Link, holds a perfect 4.0 GPA and will graduate with a minor in special education and early development and education. She has been a dean’s list student each semester while attending Penn State.
“When I learned that I was selected as student marshal, I was excited and honored to represent my graduating class,” Link said. “I’m incredibly grateful to my professors, mentors and classmates, whose guidance and encouragement have played a significant role in helping me grow into the educator I have become.”
Link has worked as a counselor, arts and crafts director, assistant director and director of operations at Camp R.E.A.L. Fun, a summer day camp in Warminster for children ages 3 to 14. Additionally, she is part of the College of Education Undergraduate Student Council, where she has served on the executive council for two years as co-recruitment chair.
Link has received the Even Pugh Scholar Award, which is presented to students in the top 0.5% of their respective class through 92.1 credits. During her time at Penn State, she also was nominated for the Outstanding Student Teaching Award and received the Jeanne Leonhard Scholarship in Education.
Link completed her student teaching in a third-grade classroom at Mountaintop Elementary School in the Bald Eagle Area School District.
“During student teaching, a Penn State College of Education alumna told my cohort to ‘Fail Forward,’” Link said. “I quickly started sharing this message with my students and adopted a growth mindset. My professors always emphasized that as teachers we will be lifelong learners, and viewing challenges as an opportunity to grow is something that I will be taking away from my time at Penn State.
“Bringing my growth mindset into my classroom will push me to continue strengthening my practices and create an environment where students develop resilience and view mistakes as a part of the learning process,” she continued.
After graduation, Link said she plans to return to Bucks County to teach in an elementary school.
“I am excited to have my classroom and continue learning to become the best teacher for my students,” she said.
Link has chosen to be escorted during the commencement ceremony by adjunct instructor Carrie Heron.
The Penn State College of Education commencement ceremony for undergraduate students is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday, May 11 at Pegula Ice Arena on the University Park campus.